Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-14

will make men and women of you all.
Young man, young woman, don't let it be
said that you leave this place where you
are educated with only sheepskin TO
take you through the world. Too many
OF you not only take your sheepskin, but
you leave entirely envelope0 in sheep
skin.
ga few years since," he continued, 81
was returning home from an extended
lecture tour. Once, as the train stopped,
my attention was attracted by two gentle
men conyersing in the back part of the
car, and the words of one made an i'm
preston on me THAI was an exemplifca-
ton of the very will force of which
have been ticking. Yes said one of the
gentlemen, 4 feel it great pity that L
have never been able to enjoy good
college education; but God helping me,
I will attain mental power and do some
thing in the world even yet
''Good thought, young man, said to
myself. That resolution is a noble one,
and you'll keep it, too; See it written in
the expression of your face; see it in
the manliness with which you spoke. I'll
remember that. So jotted down what
he had said in the little notebook I al
ways carried with me.
about four years after this, in COM
pany with a friend, / went to visit a large
library belonging 10 the city of c.,
in which then had an engagement. Ny
attention was very much taken with
something familiar looking in the face
of the librarian, with whom 1 conversed
for some time about books and authors.
An hours conversation with him proved
that it was no ordinary mind that lay
behind that wonderful conversational
ability there displayed.
"Finally, I said to him: Young man,
you have within you the making of a
fine lecturer. Is this Office of city IL
brarian the highest you ever expect to at
tain?'
Gle replied that his highest aim was
to be received by the world as lectur-
er, and that he WIS already doing some
thing in that field, but hoped to continue
to improve himself as time went on.
Friends, [ have told you enough of
this gentleman's history; it was only to
show you what benefit to a person a
strong will may be. However, allow me
to add that this young man has filled a
number of engagements for me in the
west, and he is SO we'll received that I
sometimes fear that he may displace me
altogether from the minds of the people.
He is with me tonight, and it gives me
great pleasure to introduce to your con-
sideration for short time Mr.. William
Thomas Toy"
It is needless to state the effect of the
mention of this name on Janet Gray. 1t
brought back a surge Of overwhelming
| recollectiOns. The scene at the little
station, and the parting words. She re-
membered the sun-burned beardless face
of the youth of twenty. Here stood the
bearded man ten years his senior She
thought of the rude plowman's dress he
had worn that morning by the brook.
Instead she saw a man graceful, we'll
! formed, and dressed neatly. She remem-
| bered the brawny, clumsy hand of whose
inability to handle pen we'll he had COM
| planned. All these were drowned in real
| ity. the same Tom standing in all the
| glory of his manhood before her. She
was SO overcome that she hardly knew
what he was saying. She only realized
that his speech was greeted with storm
of applause. Once it seemed to her his
| eyes were directed toward her, and i'm
mediately after he made use of something
in which he carried his audience far be-
| yond.
When the short speech was ended, and
as he passed the seat where his elderly
friend was glorying in his honor, the
| latter said
"Thomas, my friend, you've outdone
! yourself. One would think this place had
| inspired YOU"
'Not the place exactly. Mr.. Newman
he answered, "but something has given
me lift, I will confess
The next day card was sent up to the
room of Miss Gray, with no name, but
the words, "We are on the same road
now, JAMIE"
Her heart beat fer moment like that
of a maiden of Is as she enter ed the par
lOr to greet the friend of her childhood.
"Jan1s" said he, when they had talked
enough about the old days, and what had
happened to both in the ten years of sep
aration; 81 am a man now, with a man
hood to offer you. / have waited all these
years for something to offer you, though /
had always imagined would come when
my prize was taken. Have you nothing
but brothers love for me now?"
Dear Tom," said she, I've been waiting
for yoz. We have started on the same
road, let US travel together till we die"